Papulosquamous: impetigo herpetiformis: practice question

A Dermatology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Dermatology · Papulosquamous: impetigo herpetiformis

Sample item

A pregnant woman in the third trimester has fever, hypocalcaemia and grouped sterile pustules at the margins of erythematous flexural plaques. What is the diagnosis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Generalised pustular psoriasis of pregnancy (impetigo herpetiformis)

Impetigo herpetiformis is a pustular psoriasis variant of pregnancy with systemic upset, hypocalcaemia and risk to fetus through placental insufficiency. Treatment includes systemic steroids, calcium correction and sometimes ciclosporin. Pemphigoid gestationis causes tense bullae with periumbilical onset.

Option by option

  • A. Pemphigoid gestationis

    Pemphigoid gestationis causes bullae rather than pustules.

  • B. Pruritic urticarial papules of pregnancy

    PUPPP gives urticarial papules in striae without pustules or systemic upset.

  • C. Generalised pustular psoriasis of pregnancy (impetigo herpetiformis) (correct)

    Correct. Sterile pustules with hypocalcaemia in pregnancy fit this diagnosis.

  • D. Herpes simplex infection

    Herpes gives grouped vesicles, not sheets of sterile pustules with hypocalcaemia.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is C, Generalised pustular psoriasis of pregnancy (impetigo herpetiformis). Impetigo herpetiformis is a pustular psoriasis variant of pregnancy with systemic upset, hypocalcaemia and risk to fetus through placental insufficiency.

Why is "Pemphigoid gestationis" not the answer?

Pemphigoid gestationis causes bullae rather than pustules.

Why is "Pruritic urticarial papules of pregnancy" not the answer?

PUPPP gives urticarial papules in striae without pustules or systemic upset.

Why is "Herpes simplex infection" not the answer?

Herpes gives grouped vesicles, not sheets of sterile pustules with hypocalcaemia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Papulosquamous: impetigo herpetiformis in Dermatology. Treatment includes systemic steroids, calcium correction and sometimes ciclosporin. Pemphigoid gestationis causes tense bullae with periumbilical onset.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Papulosquamous: impetigo herpetiformis?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.